Jiaoshan (Jiao Mountain) Great Wall Trekking

Three kilometers north of Shanhaiguan, the easternmost pass through the main section of the Great Wall, stands the 500- meter Jiaoshan Peak. Though relatively diminutive in size, this is the first actual mountain the Great Wall passes heading west, and so is known as “the first mountain of the Great Wall.”

Built during the reign of Emperor Hongwu (1328-1398) of the Ming Dynasty, the Jiaoshan Great Wall extends about 1,500 meters, from Hanmenguan at the foot of the mountain to Dapingding , the highest point. There are three watch towers and four beacon towers.

This section is built of locally quarried rock and bricks. The height of the wall ranges from seven to ten meters, following the contours of the mountain itself, and the average width is four to five meters, although at one point it narrows to just 2.7 meters.

The biggest watch tower is on the summit of Jiaoshan. The two-story structure is built in four sections, with the top forming a rough square 10.4 meters by 10.2 meters. Along the top are watch holes and embrasures for shooting arrows.

The repaired section of Jiaoshan Great Wall starts from No.10 watch tower at Hanmen Pass and ends at No.3 watch tower at Jiaoshan Mountain via Hanmen Pass, and No.1 and No.2 watch towers of Jiaoshan Mountain. The gate of the wall is an imitation of the construction style of fortresses in the Ming Dynasty. Its appearance is very much like Chinese character "山". Measuring about 1.5 km (0.9 miles), the whole journey is a 40-minute walk. The wall was built by using local materials. It was laid mostly of free stones, as well as bricks and rectangle stones. On average, it measures 7 to 10 meters (23 to 33 feet) tall and 4 to 5 meters (4.4 to 5.5 yards) wide, and occupies a place of strategic importance. In the steepest part, it is only about 2.7 meters (3 yards) wide. The external side of the wall is precipitous and difficult to attack, while the internal side is low and convenient for climbing and fighting.

To explore the real Jiaoshan Ancient Wall, visitors have to climb over a wall cemented to No.3 watch tower of the repaired Jiaoshan Great Wall. Unlike the newly restored wall, Jiaoshan ancient wall provides you a sense of historical vicissitude. Walking on the dilapidated wall is a great challenge. The wall appears more and more crumbled and deformed as you forge ahead. In some sections, the wall is only built on one side, with the other side being the deep cliffs. In some sections, the mountain ridge is functioned as the wall, which is called by experts "mountain-supported wall". Watch your steps when you enter this zone. Look out to the southeast, and you will see a watch tower standing at the top of a lonely hill. It is Zhenlu Platform (translated as "Suppress Enemies Platform"). Gaze to the northwest, and you can find Jiaoshan Temple (also called Qixian Temple) dimly hidden in the thick forest. It is the place where Xiao Xian studied. (Xiao Xian was a noted calligrapher in Ming Dynasty who inscribed for the plaque "The First Pass under Heaven" in Shanhaiguan Pass).

After a one-hour's difficult climb, you will arrive at Dapingding Peak, the main peak of Jiaoshan Mountain. Stand on the top and look west, you can see the full extent of Yansai Lake, and watch northeast, you will get a panoramic view of Changshou (Longevity) Mountain Scenic Area. To the south, you can see the full shot of Jiaoshan Great Wall and Shanhaiguan City, if weather permits, Laolongtou Great Wall and Bohai Sea can also be vividly recognized afar.

Jiaoshan Ancient Wall turns east from Dapingding Peak. It first noses down the eastern slope of Dapingding Peak, climbs over Liumianding Mountain and then arrives at Sandaoguan Pass which is actually a twin watch tower. The travel from Dapingding Peak to Sandaoguan Pass takes about one hour, and also, it is a thorny track which is difficult to reach. You will have entered Changshou Mountain Scenic Area from Jiaoshan Great Wall at the end of this trekking.

We are organizing the transportation to send you to this beautiful section of the Great Wall on daily basis. Each departure can be formed by 2-person-group, 3-person-group or 4-person-group.

Register your Jiaoshan Great Wall tour now.